Kendrapara: The Excise Department, an epitome of corruption, has done the most unimaginable – it issued a licence to someone who died a few months back.
One Sabita Priyambada Priyadarshini Dash, opened a licensed IMFL liquor shop ‘Gudu Bar and Restaurant’ near Gopa Chowk on NH-5(A) some time ago. Later, she allegedly gave a power of attorney to her brother, Pratap Chandra Dash, to run the Gudu Bar and Restaurant. Sabita however died of heart attack eight months ago.
Her brother who had the power of attorney allegedly did not inform the Excise Department about his sister’s death and renewed the shop licence April 1 in the name of deceased Sabita.
As per guidelines, to get the licence renewed, the applicant has to file an application by affixing an original photo with his/her signature. Besides, he/she has to submit the documents relating to solvency certificate, sales tax clearances, income tax clearance, PAN card no, the original affidavit executed before the executive magistrate, the original bank draft/banker cheque number and date.
As per the guidelines, the licence would be taken in person by the applicant from the excise office. The excise personnel have to conduct an inquiry and scrutinise all the submitted documents before issuing the licence. In this case, the excise personnel did not conduct any inquiry and provided licence to the licence holder who was already dead. This could not have happened without the unholy nexus between excise staff and Sabita’s brother Pratap Chandra Dash, the holder of the power of attorney.
According to Samarendra Kumar Samal, assistant commissioner of commercial tax and GST officer of Kendrapara, only two persons, who were works contractors, have taken ST clearance from the office. No such sales tax clearance had been given this year to Sabita Priyambada Priyadarshini Dash.
Rahas Behari Patra, excise superintendent of Kendrapara, said renewal of IMFL liquor licence for ‘Gudu Bar and Restaurant’ was made on April 1 in the name of Sabita Priyambada Priyadarshini Dash. Later, he came to know that the licensee had died. As a result, as per the direction of district collector, he (Patra) recently directed his subordinates to seal the shop after conducting an inquiry. The liquor shop was sealed Saturday night.
“It has been established that the licensee is dead, but Pratap Chandra Dash did not submit the death certificate; so the excise department renewed the licence,” Patra said in an evasive manner.
District collector Reghu G stated that he has asked the excise superintendent to submit a detailed report. A criminal case would be registered against the person who filed the application along with the documents and a false affidavit.
Finance and excise minister Shashi Bhusan Behera, during his visit to Kendrapara Tuesday, said an inquiry would be ordered and action initiated against the guilty.
